US meetings to discuss religious freedom in Bahrain
Author: BI-ME staff
Source: BI-ME
Published: 15-10-2008
BAHRAIN. The US this week weighed in on the issue of political reform in Bahrain and Shiite-Sunni tensions.
Representatives Frank Wolf, James McGovern and Trent Franks yesterday issued invitations to a briefing being held in Washington DC on behalf of a group called ‘Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain’.
US meetings to discuss religious freedom in Bahrain
Author: BI-ME staff
Source: BI-ME
Published: 15-10-2008
BAHRAIN. The US this week weighed in on the issue of political reform in Bahrain and Shiite-Sunni tensions.
Representatives Frank Wolf, James McGovern and Trent Franks yesterday issued invitations to a briefing being held in Washington DC on behalf of a group called ‘Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain’.
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom will today hold a briefing on the ‘Impact of Political Reform on Religious Freedom in Bahrain’, chaired by Frank Wolf..
In June, Bahrain successfully completed its Universal Periodic Review for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Despite approval by the Council, concern still looms regarding Bahrain’s commitment to human rights and religious freedom, said the US group. Despite reforms decreed by King Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Isa Al Khalifa in 2001-2002, Human Rights Watch has criticised new laws containing provisions that undermine human rights and the reform measures. Journalists also have questioned the government’s sincerity as intra-religious political and social tensions continue to rise.
While Bahrain has been referred to as a model of democracy and reform in the Arab region, the majority Shiite population feel increasingly marginalised by the ruling Sunni minority. According to the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report for 2008, government discrimination against Shiites has been found in certain areas, including the allocation of land for places of worship. The report also indicates that Shiites are underrepresented in the Ministry of Education, whereas Sunnis often receive preference for government employment, managerial rankings in the civil service, and in the military.
The president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), which documents religious freedom concerns in the country, was arrested in February. Later released, he spoke out against human rights abuses by the Bahraini government at the Universal Periodic Review session on Bahrain in Geneva; the BCHR now fears for his safety. Human rights advocates also have questioned the substantial population growth, reportedly 41% by government statistics, as rumours spread that the government is granting passports to Sunnis from other countries to increase their representation within Bahrain and force the Shiites into the minority.
Joining the meeting in Washington DC will be experts from Bahrain including Nabeel Ahmed Rajab, founder and acting chairman of the BCHR; Dr Abduljaleel Al Singace, assistant professor at the University of Bahrain and co-founder of the Al-Wefaq political society; Maryam Al Khawaja, former leader of the student organisation AIESEC-Bahrain, and Dr Toby Jones, assistant professor at Rutgers University and former contributor to the International Crisis Group reports on Bahrain.
Separately Dr Jasim Husain (member of parliament) of the Al Wefaq Society is holding a seminar in Washington DC on Thursday discussing socio-political issues in Bahrain.
In a statement, Dr Husain said that If left unresolved, discriminatory practices in Bahrain could threaten local harmony, with repercussions felt throughout the region and beyond. The US, which has a naval base in Bahrain, cannot afford overlooking challenges facing an allied nation, said Dr Husain.
On 19 October King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa inaugurates the third session of 2006-2010 parliament. However, Dr Husain said the country faces numerous challenges and opportunities that require contributions from members of parliament, local civil societies and international establishments supporting democracy and justice.
“The biggest challenge relates to systematic discriminatory practices against the majority Shia population,” he said. As of mid-October 2008, Shia merely assumed 10% of cabinet-level ministers. According to a study conducted by Al Wefaq (the largest opposition group in terms of members and parliamentary representation), Shia control 13% of decision-making positions in governmental departments. Worse, the authorities largely deny Shia entry at security establishments, in turn regarded as key sources of employment by virtue of receiving about 30% of budgetary recurrent expenditures.
Denial of jobs at security apparatuses is a primary reason behind unemployment amongst Shia. True unemployment rate is not an exact science in Bahrain, but believed to be running anywhere between 4% to 8%. The utmost majority of unemployed happen to be Shia, reflecting either a careless or a carefully planned governmental policy.
Reforming election districts is another priority, according to Dr Husain. Now, election districts do not reflect population density, echoing a determined governmental policy to influence parliamentary voting. For instance, the southern governorate boasted about 6% of total electorate but granted 15% of parliamentary seats. Unfair representation is deterring the legislative branch from fulfilling its duties towards the citizens.
Yet, Bahrain encounters serious economic challenges that require contributions from all concerned parties, said Dr Husain. The petroleum sector continues to play a dominant role in the economy despite all talks of economic diversification. The sector contributed 80% of real treasury income in 2007. Concurrently, Bahrain is facing growing rivalry from regional economies, with Dubai, Doha and Riyadh and more recently Kuwait vying to become regional hub for financial services.